Method for playing a baseball-based bean bag tossing game

ABSTRACT

Tailgating, or having party prior to a sporting event, most often a football game, is an American pastime. In recent years, tailgating has expanded to other sports, including baseball. For many years, cornhole games have been a mainstay during tailgating events at football games across the United States. However, the traditional cornhole game offers little challenge as the board has but one target opening and scoring is limited. Further, the traditional cornhole game has no real connection to the game of baseball; it does not present a representation of the field of play and does not apply the rules of baseball. The purpose of this invention is to create a method of play for a bean bag tossing game that is based on the game of baseball and incorporates the rules and strategies of the game of baseball. 
     In an effort to create a baseball-based bean bag tossing game, the game must incorporate the imagery of a baseball field, the rules of the game, and the concepts of pitching, including balls, strikes and hits, one-, two- and three-base hits, homeruns, sacrifice bunts and sacrifice flies, outs at first, second and third base, fly outs, infield fly-outs and outfield fly-outs, double plays, steals and extra base hits. Players attempt to get hits to get runners on base, then try to bring the runners home to score. 
     The game should also provide the player with an opportunity to use strategy when deciding what plays to make. With this baseball-based bean bag toss game, all of the main elements of the game of baseball listed above are incorporated and the game plays out similarly to a real game of baseball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Provisional Patent Application No. 62/387,030, filed Dec. 21, 2015; Applicant: Mark Wolters; Title: Ultra-toss bean bag tossing game.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Design patent application Ser. No. 29/583,102, filed Nov. 2, 2016; Applicant: Mark Wolters; Title: Baseball-based bean bag tossing game playing surface.

SPECIFICATION

Method for playing a baseball-based bean bag tossing game.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tailgating, or having party prior to a sporting event, most often a football game, is an American pastime. In recent years, tailgating has expanded to other sports, including baseball. For many years, cornhole games have been a mainstay during tailgating events at football games across the United States. However, the traditional cornhole game offers little challenge as the board has but one target opening and scoring is limited. Further, the traditional cornhole game has no real connection to the game of baseball; it does not present a representation of the field of play and does not apply the rules of baseball. The purpose of this invention is to create a method of play for a bean bag tossing game that is based on the game of baseball and incorporates the rules and strategies of the game of baseball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an effort to create a baseball-based bean bag tossing game, the game must incorporate the imagery of a baseball field, the rules of the game, and the concepts of pitching, including balls, strikes and hits, one-, two- and three-base hits, homeruns, sacrifice bunts and sacrifice flies, outs at first, second and third base, fly outs, infield fly-outs and outfield fly-outs, double plays, steals and extra base hits. Players attempt to get hits to get runners on base, then try to bring the runners home to score.

The game should also provide the player with an opportunity to use strategy when deciding what plays to make. With this baseball-based bean bag toss game, all of the main elements of the game of baseball listed above are incorporated and the game plays out similarly to a real game of baseball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a sample playing surface, used to assist in the description of the method. The sample playing surface does not form any part of this method patent application and is included for illustrative purposes only.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a method of play for a baseball-based bean bag toss game. The method is applied to a planar playing surface with a plurality of openings through the surface to allow passage of a tossed bean bag. Any reference to a bean bag also includes a ball.

The openings in the playing surface should provide targets for:

-   -   a. scoring strikes, balls, foul balls and making contact;     -   b. scoring hits, including:         -   1. singles;         -   2. doubles;         -   3. triples;         -   4. homeruns;         -   5. sacrifice bunts;         -   6. sacrifice flies;         -   7. fielder's errors;     -   c. scoring outs, including:         -   1. outs at first base;         -   2. outs at second base;         -   3. outs at third base;         -   4. double-plays:         -   5. infield fly outs;         -   6. fly outs;     -   d. scoring steals; and     -   e. scoring extra-base plays.

The playing surface may be comprised of the following:

-   -   a. A Pitching Zone (1) with a series of openings, which may be         comprised of:         -   1. An opening (2) for scoring contact with the ball (a             “Contact Target”);         -   2. A plurality of openings (3) for scoring strikes (each             identified as a “Strike Target”);         -   3. A plurality of openings (4) for scoring balls (each             identified as a “Ball Target”);     -   b. A depiction of a baseball field with a series of openings,         which may be comprised of all or some of the following:         -   1. An opening (5) for scoring a single-base hit (a “Single             Target”);         -   2. An opening (6) for scoring a two-base hit (a “Double             Target”);         -   3. An opening (7) for scoring a three-base hit (a “Triple             Target”);         -   4. n opening (8) for scoring a homerun (a “Homerun Target”);         -   5. An opening (9) for scoring a fielder's error single (a             “Fielder's Error Target”);         -   6. An opening (10) for scoring a sacrifice bunt (a             “Sacrifice Bunt Target”);         -   7 An opening (11) for scoring a sacrifice fly (a “Sacrifice             Fly Target”);         -   8. An opening (12) for scoring a infield fly out (a “Infield             Fly Out Target”);         -   9. A plurality of openings (13) for scoring a fly out (a             “Fly Out Target”);         -   10. An opening (14) for scoring an out at first (an “Out at             First Target”);         -   11. An opening (15) for scoring an out at second (an “Out at             Second Target”);         -   12. An opening (16) for scoring an out at third (an “Out at             Third Target”);         -   13. An opening (17) for scoring a double play (a “Double             Play Target”); and         -   14. An opening (18) for scoring a steal (a “Steal Target”);         -   15. An opening (19) for scoring an extra-base (a “Extra-Base             Target”);

A sample playing surface, for illustrative purposes only, is attached as FIG. 1.

The game is typically played between two players, though if there are more than two players, the players can be divided into teams. Once teams or players have been determined, a coin toss determines the starting player/team. The winner of the coin toss may elect the starting player who shall commence the game.

To start the game, a player, as batter, attempts to toss a bean bag through the Contact Target (2) in the Pitching Zone (1). If the player is successful, he has one opportunity to try to score a hit to get on base as a runner. If the player tosses the bean bag through a Ball Target (4), it is a ball. If a player, as batter, scores four balls in one at-bat, he is granted a ‘walk’, or free passage to first base. If the player tosses the bean bag through a Strike Target (3), it is a strike. If a player, as batter, scores three strikes in one at-bat, he is out. If the player misses all targets, it is scored a foul ball and counts as a strike, except for the third strike.

While attempting to score a hit, a player may attempt to steal. If he successfully tosses a bean bag through the Steal Target (18), all runners on base advance one base. If the toss is unsuccessful, it is scored a foul ball and counts as a strike. NOTE: If, as batter, a player misses an attempted steal when the batter already has two strikes, he is out. There is no ‘third-strike foul ball reprieve’ rule on the third miss on a steal attempt.

Once a player, as batter, has scored a hit, he then has the opportunity to become a base runner, depending on the type of hit made. If a player scores the Single Target (5), he is awarded a single-base hit and a bean bag is placed in the first base target to represent the runner. If the player, as batter, scores the Double Target (6), he is awarded a two-base hit and a bean bag is placed in the second base target to represent the runner. If the player, as batter, scores the Triple Target (7), he is awarded a three-base hit and a bean bag is placed in the third base target to represent the runner. If the player, as batter, scores the Homerun Target (8), he is awarded a home run and all runners on base are scored as runs.

If a player, as batter, scores a Fielder's Error Target (9), he is awarded a single-base hit.

If a player, as batter, scores a sacrifice by tossing a bean bag through either the Sacrifice Bunt Target (10) or the Sacrifice Fly Target (11). In each case, the batter is out, but all runners on base advance one base.

If a player scores any of the Infield Fly Out Target (12), Fly Out Target (13),the Out at First Target (14), the Out at Second Target (15) or the Out at Third Target (16), the batter is out and no runners advance. Where a player scores the Double Play Target (17), the batter is out and, if there was a runner on first base at the time of the hit, the first base runner is out also.

Where there are existing base runners, also represented by bean bags in the base targets, and a batter gets a hit, each base runner is advanced as many bases as the hit attained. If a player is on first base and a batter gets a double, a bean bag is placed in the second base target representing the batter's double, and the bean bag representing the runner on first is moved to the third base target. If a runner is on second base and a batter gets a single, a bean bag is placed in the first base target representing the batter's single, and the bean bag representing the runner on second moves to the third base target. When a homerun is scored, all runners on base are scored and all bean bags representing the runners on base are removed.

No runners advance if the batter, in going out, represents the third out of an inning.

A player, while batting, may elect to attempt steal by tossing a bean bag through the Steal Target (18). If a player successfully tosses a bean bag through the Steal Target (18), all base runners advance one base. If the steal toss is unsuccessful, it is counted as a strike, even where it is the batter's third strike.

A player, as batter, after successfully scoring a hit, may elect to take one opportunity to attempt an extra base by tossing a bean bag through the Extra-Base Target (19). If a player successfully tosses a bean bag through the Extra-Base Target (19), all base runners advance one base. If the extra-base toss is unsuccessful, the lead runner on base, if any, is out.

One game lasts for nine innings. Each player has an opportunity to score hits and runs in each inning. Each player has three outs for each inning. The winner is the player who scores the most runs in the game. If the players are tied after a regulation game, each player is granted one more inning to score runs until a winner is determined.

Alternatively, players can agree to pay to a set number of runs. The winner is the player who first scores enough runs to meet or exceed the set run total. 

1. A method for playing a tossing game based on the sport of baseball, intended to be played with a planar playing surface with appropriate openings there-through, such openings having been designated positive or negative values based on the events and activities that take place in the game of baseball.
 2. The method of claim 1, where players stand a defined distance from a playing surface and attempt to toss bean bags through openings in the playing surface in order to score hits and runs.
 3. The method of claim 1, where the items tossed are preferably bean bags, but may be balls or other similar items capable of being tossed through an opening in a playing surface.
 4. The method of claim 1, where the method comprises the following steps: a. Steps to get make contact with the ball as a batter; b. Steps to get a hit and become a base-runner and/or advance existing base-runners; c. Steps to advance on the bases as a base-runner; d. Steps to steal a base while batting; e. Steps to get extra bases after a successful hit; f. Steps to complete a game based on a defined number of innings; and g. Steps to complete a game based on a set number of runs.
 5. The method of claim 1, where the steps to make contact with the ball as a batter comprise the following: a. A player attempts to toss bean bags through a set of openings within the Pitching Zone (1); b. The player attempts to toss a bean bag through an opening in the Pitching zone (1) designated as a Contact Target(2), while avoiding openings surrounding the Contact Target (2) that are designated as a Strike Target (3) and a Ball Target (4); c. Where a player tosses a bean bag through the opening designated as a Strike Target (3), the player has scored a strike; d. If the player scores three strikes, he is out; e. Where a player successfully tosses a bean bag through the opening designated as a Ball Target (4), the player has scored a ball; f. If the player scores four balls, he has scored a walk; g. Where a player successfully tosses a bean bag through the opening designated as a Contact Target (2), the player has made contact and has the opportunity to try to get a hit; h. Where a player fails to score any target, the toss is scored as a foul ball and is counted as a strike, except for the third strike.
 6. The method of claim 1, where the steps to get a hit and become a base-runner and/or advance existing base-runners comprise the following: a. Once a player has scored a Contact Target (2) in the Pitching Zone (1), he may attempt to get a runner on base; b. In order to get a runner on base, the player has one opportunity to toss a bean bag through any opening designated as a base hit on the playing surface, such openings comprising the following: c. An opening (5) for scoring a single-base hit (a “Single Target”); d. An opening (6) for scoring a two-base hit (a “Double Target”); e. An opening (7) for scoring a three-base hit (a “Triple Target”); f. An opening (8) for scoring a homerun (a “Homerun Target”); g. An opening (9) for scoring a fielder's error single (a “Fielder's Error Target”); h. An opening (10) for scoring a sacrifice bunt (a “Sacrifice Bunt Target”); and i. An opening (11) for scoring a sacrifice fly (a “Sacrifice Fly Target”); j. Where a player tosses a bean bag through the Single Target (5), a bean bag is placed in the opening designated as a single hit to represent the batter as a runner on first base and all runners on the bases are advanced one base; k. Where a player tosses a bean bag through the Double Target (6), a bean bag is placed in the opening designated as a two-base hit to represent the batter as a runner on second base and all runners on the bases are advanced two bases; l. Where a player tosses a bean bag through the Triple Target (7), a bean bag is placed in the opening designated as a three-base hit to represent the batter as a runner on third base and all runners on the bases are advanced three bases; m. Where a player tosses a bean bag through the Homerun Target (8), all on the bases are removed and the player scores a run for each bean bag so removed and one run for the batter who scored the homerun; n. Where a player scores a Fielder's Error Target (9), a bean bag is placed in the opening designated as a single hit to represent the batter as a runner on first base and all runners on base are advanced one base; o. Where a player scores a Sacrifice Bunt Target (10), the batter is out, but all runners on base are advanced one base unless the batter's out is the third out of the inning; p. Where a player scores a Sacrifice Fly Target (11), the batter is out, but all runners on base are advanced one base unless the batter's out is the third out of the inning;
 7. The method of claim 1, where the steps to avoid going out comprise the following: a. A player must also avoid tossing a bean bag through any opening designated as an out, such openings comprising: i. An opening (12) where, if a player tosses a bean bag there-through, he is out (an Infield Fly Out Target”); ii. An opening (13) where, if a player tosses a bean bag there-through, he is out (a Fly Out Target”); iii. An opening (14) where, if a player tosses a bean bag there-through, he is out at first base (an “Out at First Target”); iv. An opening (15) where, if a player tosses a bean bag there-through, he is out at second base (an Out at Second Target”); v. An opening (16) where, if a player tosses a bean bag there-through, he is out at third base (an Out at Third Target”); or vi. An opening (17) where, if a player tosses a bean bag there-through, he is out and any runner on first base when the hit is made is out (a Double Play Target”). b. Where a party scores an opening designated as a Infield Fly Out Target (12), the batter is out and no base runners advance; c. Where a party scores an opening designated as a Fly Out Target (13), the batter is out and no base runners advance; d. Where a party scores an opening designated as an Out at First Target (14), the batter is out and no base runners advance; e. Where a party scores an opening designated as an Out at Second Target (15), the batter is out and no base runners advance; f. Where a party scores an opening designated as an Out at Third Target (16), the batter is out and no base runners advance; g. Where a party scores an opening designated as a Double Play Target (17), the batter is out, any runner on first base is out and no other base runners advance; h. Where a player fails to hit any target, the toss is scored as a foul ball and is counted as a strike, except for the third strike; and i. Where a player fails to hit any target, the player attempts anew to score contact in the Pitching Zone (1), keeping track of the batter's prior strikes and balls.
 8. The method of claim 1, where the steps to advance on the bases comprise the following: a. Once a batter becomes a base runner, a bean bag is placed in the appropriate base target depending on the hit made by the batter to represent the runner on base; b. Where a subsequent player, as batter, scores a hit, a sacrifice, a walk or a fielder's error, each runner on base advances as many bases as the batter advances until they reach home plate; c. No runner may advance if the batter is out and that out is the third out of the inning. In such a case, all bean bags representing runners on base are removed and the opposing player may begin his inning of play.
 9. The method of claim 1, where the steps to steal a base while at bat comprise the following: a. Where a player, while attempting to get a hit, scores an opening designated as a Steal Target (18), all runners on base advance one base; b. Where a player, while attempting a steal, fails to score the opening designated as a Steal Target (18), the toss is scored as a strike regardless of how many strikes a player's batter has.
 10. The method of claim 1, where the steps to get extra bases after a successful hit comprise the following: a. Where a party successfully scores a base hit, other than a homerun, he may attempt to get extra bases, as follows: b. The player has one opportunity to attempt to toss a bean bag through the Extra-Base Target (19); c. If he successfully tosses a bean bag through the Extra-Base Target (19), all base runners advance one base. d. If the player is unsuccessful in tossing a bean bag through the Extra-Base Target (19), the player's lead runner on base, if any, is out and that runner's bean bag is removed from the playing surface.
 11. The method of claim 1, where the steps to complete a game with a defined number of innings comprise the following: a. A complete game is divided into nine innings; b. Players play in turns in each inning; c. Each player may score as many runs as possible in an inning; d. An inning is over when a player has three outs; and e. A complete game is played when all players have played nine innings. f. The winner of the game is the player who has accumulated the most runs in a complete game; g. Where the players are tied after a complete game, a further inning is played and each player is awarded one additional possession until one player breaks the tie.
 12. The method of claim 1, where the steps to complete a game with a set run total comprise the following: a. Players agree on a set run total prior to the start of the game; b. A complete game is played when one player has accumulated enough runs to meet or exceed the set run total. 